One predictor of a child's future well-being (such as self-esteem, anxiety and depression levels, and family cohesiveness) is how well the child knows his/her family history. The more family stories, the better.

The Do You Know scale, developed by researchers at Emory University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, tests kids' knowledge of their family histories. The 20 yes/no questions are specifically designed to see if adolescents had been told stories such as how their parents met or jobs their parents had in the past. Scoring high on the DYK scale has been associated with better social adjustment for the kids and better family functioning overall. (Note that it's not just knowing the answers that matters, but that these kinds of stories arise naturally from family—parents and other generations—interactions.)

Advertisement

The questionnaire includes questions like: Do you know:

How your parents met?

Where your mother and father grew up?

Where your parents married?

What went on when you were born?

How you got your name?

Good or bad experiences that taught your parents life lessons?

Awards your parents received when they were young?

Illnesses/injuries your parents experienced when they were younger?

Where your grandparents grew up and met?

It makes sense that with stronger family knowledge, kids can develop a better sense of their own identities. This questionnaire is a good prompt to make sure you're sharing your family's past with your kids. Hit up the link below for the full 20 questions.